01589nas a2200217 4500008004100000022001300041245008700054210006900141260001600210520093400226653001501160653001601175653000901191653001601200653000901216100002001225700001901245700002101264700002001285856006601305 2014 eng d a0022201100aOphiocordyceps myrmicarum, a new species infecting invasive Myrmica rubra in Maine0 aOphiocordyceps myrmicarum a new species infecting invasive Myrmi cJan-12-20143 a

Myrmica rubra L. (Formicidae: Hymenoptera), an invasive ant species in Maine, has been problematic in coastal communities over the past 15 years and the subject of studies on its ecology, effects, and management. In recent years we observed a fungus growing from moribund M. rubra (in vitro) and have isolated multiple cultures of this previously unreported fungus over 2 y. We analyzed morphology and DNA molecular sequences of this fungus and identified it as a member of the genus Hirsutella Pat. (Ophiocordycipitaceae; Hypocreales), the use of which is suppressed in favor of a monophyleticOphiocordyceps clade. Molecular and morphological characters support the description of this fungus as a new species, O. myrmicarum, which is the first species in this genus to be isolated from North American M. rubra.

10aAscomycota10anucSSU rDNA10arpb110aSystematics10atef11 aSimmons, Rabern1 aLund, Jennifer1 aLevitsky, Tamara1 aGroden, Eleanor uhttp://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S002220111400188802379nas a2200181 4500008004100000245012600041210006900167520175300236653001601989653003602005653002202041653001702063653001302080100002002093700002002113700002602133856003802159 2014 eng d00aMechanisms of competitive displacement of native ant fauna by invading Myrmica rubra (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) populations0 aMechanisms of competitive displacement of native ant fauna by in3 a

Exotic ants have become invasive in many regions around the world, with variable ecological impacts. Postinvasion, native ant communities are often found to be depauperate, though the causes of this apparent lack of coexistence are rarely well known. Myrmica rubra (L.), a Palearctic Myrmecine ant, is currently expanding its range as an invasive in North America. This aggressive ant forms dense, patchy local infestations and appears to aggressively displace native ant fauna. We measured behavioral interactions and rates of recruitment in experimental field assays pitting native foragers against captive colonies of M. rubra at tuna-jelly or aphid baits in uninfested areas of Mt. Desert Island, ME. Behavioral interactions were idiosyncratic with respect to the native opponent, but M. rubra generally showed significantly higher levels of recruitment, aggression, and displacement of native foragers. As with other invasive ant species shown to have broken the “dominance–discovery trade-off,” M. rubra was consistently faster to discover baits and disproportionately displaced native foragers, providing a plausible proximate mechanism for native ant exclusion. Finally, we surveyed ant recruitment at baits for 24 h in August 2004 at four sites with varying M. rubra abundance but found little evidence of temporal niche partitioning. Taken together, these results indicate competitive superiority byM. rubra with respect to native ant communities of the northeastern North America and suggest direct aggression and competitive exclusion at food resources can lead to local native displacement.

10acoexistence10adominance–discovery trade-off10aEuropean Fire Ant10ainvasive ant10aruby ant1 aGarnas, Jeffrey1 aGroden, Eleanor1 aDrummond, Francis, A. uhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1603/EN14079